Cook, Gunter hit home runs as EC overcomes Pike County and umpire blunders

ZEBULON-Olivia Cook hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning that allowed the East Coweta Lady Indians to regain the lead as they defeated the Pike County Lady Pirates 8-4 in a non-region softball matchup played Monday evening that had featured some controversery.

The Lady Indians improved to 20-2 on the season the Lady Pirates fell to 19-4.

With the game tied at 3-3 and one out in the top of the sixth inning drilled a 3-1 offering over the left field for her first varsity home run of the season.

The Lady Pirates tried to rally in the bottom of the inning with two runners on base and nobody out but a force play at third followed by a sacrifice bunt and flyball to left field ended the threat.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Indians added to the lead as Lynch reached on a two base error and Cooper followed with a double that scored pinch runner Krys Odum..

Cooper would come home on a laser hit over the left field fence by Gunter to give EC a 7-3 lead.

Taylor followed with a double and scored after consecutive singles by Jaliyah Holmes and Ansley Duffey.

In the bottom of the frame, Holmes retired the first batter on a flyball before surrendering a home run to Pike County and finishing the game with a pair of strikeouts to receive the win.

The Lady Indians took the initial lead of the game with two outs in the top of the first inning as Lynch doubled and scored after walks to Kenadie Cooper, Ansley Gunter and Hanna Miller.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Lady Indians added to the lead after one out as Ashleigh Griffin was hit by a pitch and a single by Cook allowed courtesy runner Katie Taylor to advance to third and after a single by Lilly Agan, Lynch lined a two run single and the lead was 3-0.

Through the first four innings, Aniston Wright was providing a solid pitching effort as she recorded four strikeouts during tha span and allowed one hit.

Then came the bottom of the fifth inning as Wright walked the first batter and retired the next on a strikeout.

An error on a sacrifice, a walk and an alleged hit batter called by the umpires resulted in a run and Holmes came in to replace Wright.

Holmes then encountered calls of the odd as an illegal pitch was called resulting in a run but the home plate umpire called one before the second without telling anyone and the dynamic duo allowed two runs to score and the game was tied.

The final two batters were retired to end the eventful inning but a fire was lit and the Lady Indians were able to respond.

The Lady Indians will host the Northside Patriot (17-8) Tuesday at 5:30. It will be Senior Nightas Lynch, Carmen Prior and Odum will be honored..

The two teams met on September 24, 2016 in a tournament played at Partkview with Northside winning 11-8.

NOTE: The Wheeler Wildcats have opted to not participate in next week's Region 2-AAAAAAA Tournament and the Westlake Lady Lions will be the fourth seed.

Westlake will face EC in the second game on Tuesday at 6:30 while Newnan and Campbell will play at 4:30.